Hi, Greg,I think a serious answer to your question would be, "No," but I don't think you really wanted one.However, there is a tantric stream within Theravada - quite strong in Thailand - and ven Gavesako has been exploring it in this thread http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=10503 on Dhamma Wheel.

There are also non-tantric Hindu elements in Thai Buddhism, with Ganesh often being represented in temples there; other gods, too, and (from Mahayana) Kuan Yin.

Frankly, I think Gautama would be quite surprised by what he found in any Buddhist temple if he dropped in to visit. Would he be disappointed? I'm not so sure.

of course the answer is "no", just like the answer to the question the OP posed is "no".

No disagreement there, Greg, but I just wanted to bounce my tantric-theravada post off your question, since the 'official' position is that Theravada has absorbed nothing from Hinduism and has no interest in tantric practices. Like many official positions , it isn't entirely true.

beautiful breath wrote:The Tibetan traditions seem a million miles away from the Theravadins who I understand are considered to be the closest to what the Buddha actually taught himself prior to any major interpretations. There were no Vajras, Bells, Inner Offerings....etc... in the Discourses

tibetan buddhism (which is a continuation of lineages in indian buddhism) has no problem with the tenets of theravada

according to them, theravadins correctly explain dependent arising within appearances of inherent existence and true existence. the difference then is that those indian/tibetan lineages then go on to, in addition, refute not just permanence and persons independent of the aggregates, but also true and inherent existence

vajras, particular rituals, particular imagery, etc, arise due to direct contact between people proficient with emptiness and the bestowers of emptiness (buddhas).

Tricycle had a great article http://www.tricycle.com/feature/whose-buddhism-truest that goes into some depth. Theravada is not the "pure" form. Many traditions were emergent simulataneously in India at that time. Having lived in Thailand for years...it is very hard to find an actual Buddha statue on display outside of a temple. Nearly all the displays in public are Hindu. Imagine that? There are many rituals and ceremonies that Westerners may not be aware of since they don't live in those cultures but Thailand is full of ceremonies, ritual, superstitions, etc.,

Ajahn Buddhadhasa is well known in his attempts to teach the Dharma...and educate Thais that much of what they think is Dharma is superstition and not Buddhism.